Jasmine Demers is a government reporter with the Star. It seems so strange to have to pick my favorite stories from a year where much of my work has been defined by the COVID-19 pandemic and the suffering that came along with it, she says. For that reason, I decided to pick stories that I feel really highlight the widespread impact that this virus has had, and continues to have, on our community.
Here are her favorite pieces of 2020:
Fave Five: Family of Tucson s first fatal COVID-19 case: I want her death to mean something
One of my favorite things about being a journalist is being able to connect with people and having the honor of telling their stories. This was one of the most difficult stories Iâve ever had to write, but I was so grateful that this family trusted me enough to do so during such an incredibly sad and vulnerable time for them. Iâm hoping that everyone who reads this story is reminded that COVID-19 cases and fatalities are so much more than jus
First healthcare workers in Pima County get COVID-19 vaccines
COVID-19 vaccine rollout By Megan McNeil | December 17, 2020 at 5:53 PM MST - Updated December 18 at 10:31 AM
TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) -It was a historic day in Pima County, as healthcare workers got some of the first covid-19 vaccinations.
For them, it was showing a light at the end of a very long tunnel COVID-19 has brought. Banner and TMC served as centers to vaccinate their employees and other healthcare workers designated by the county. TMC said they gave about 1,100 vaccinations on Thursday,Dec. 17 to their staff and other healthcare workers outside their system.
COVID-19 vaccinations begin for Tucson healthcare workers tucsonsentinel.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from tucsonsentinel.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The goal since the pandemic started last March has been to keep hospitals from reaching capacity, but weâre past that now: Pima Countyâs hospitals are full and COVID-19 case counts keep reaching record highs.
âWeâve been talking about when the time would come when we are overwhelmed,â said Dr. Shannon Thorn, a Tucson infectious-disease specialist, âand we have reached that time.â
Thorn, who provides help at several local hospitals, said the number of available staffed hospital beds fluctuates depending on patients being discharged, transferred or dying.
On Wednesday night, one ICU bed became open. It filled immediately.